Only in ''relative'' terms. True, the ''price per [[megaflop]]'', or ''price per megabyte'' of RAM or HD space, etc. -- these have all plummeted. However: in order to get a working computer system of ANY performance level, you will be lucky to get below a certain minimum price level. It doesn't even matter what computer generation we're talking about -- whether 386 / PowerPC 601 or G5 / Opteron. Sure, there always is that hiatus, that moment where people/companies who are upgrading obsessively give away their PCs for nothing. But securing one of these is sheer luck. As a check on ebay will tell you, there is a bottom line where things don't get cheaper, regardless of what generation of PC you're buying. Ironically, if you wanted to buy a good mid-class PC system 10 years ago, you probably had to spend, say, about $1200. If you want to buy a good mid-class PC system today, you have to spend -- surprise -- $1200! Yes, true, today you get "a lot more Mega" for your buck, but Joe Random User trying to buy a good mid-class PC has probably been spending the same amount for the last decade or so and the reason for that is that after the design phase is over, it costs about the same to fab an Opteron system today as it used to cost to fab a 386 system. (Back in the very old days it was different, and PCs did indeed cost $12000 and more instead of $1200. But you're getting my drift.) Of course marketing suits tell us that things are really, totally getting cheaper -- well, there probably is ''some'' truth in that as well. But less than most would think. Also, I would observe that the "minimum prize level" I mentioned above is still totally out of reach of (to make up a number), say 90% of the world population. They just can't spare that money, ridiculously little though it may seem to us. Let's not forget that. -- Jens [[User:Ropers|Ropers]] www.ropersonline.com